Nehemiah 1:1-3 ESV1…Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the 20th year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, & concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in

Nehemiah 1:3-5 ESVgreat trouble & shame. The wall . . . is broken down, & its gates are destroyed by fire.” 4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down & wept & mourned for days, & I continued fasting & praying before the God of heaven. 5And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great & awesome God who keeps covenant & steadfast love with those who love him & keep

Nehemiah 1:5-7 ESVhis commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive & your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day & night for the people of Israel your servants, confess-ing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I & my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you & have not kept the

Nehemiah 1:7-9 ESVcommandments . . . that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me & keep my commandments & do them . . . I will gather them & bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’

Nehemiah 1:10-11 ESV10They are your servants & your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power . . . 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, & . . . of your servants who delight to fear your name, & give success to your servant today , & grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 2:1-2 ESV1 In the month of Nisan, in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine & gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

Nehemiah 2:3-5 ESV3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, & its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, & if your servant has found favor

Nehemiah 2:5-7 ESVin your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, & when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me

Nehemiah 2:7-8 ESVto the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 & a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, & for the wall of the city, & for the house that I shall occupy.”

Nehemiah 2:8-9 ESV

And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River & gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army & horsemen.

The difference between a burden & a problem is who carries it, where, & why.

A BURDEN is something I take to God for His & others’

sake.

I take my burden to God because:

• His name & people He loves are on the line

• I can’t do it, but I can’t do nothing

Stop ignoring needs that don’t impact you.

Start by taking your burden to the Lord.

Identify & own your burden for God’s glory!